Rally in Support of Street Vendors Calls for Equality…and a Resignation

Protestors rallied in support of local street vendors this past Sunday afternoon. However, while they supported street vendors, the protestors also explicitly called for the resignation of a person who they feel wronged them.

On Friday, April 21^st, a Yonkers bystander filmed Jessica Guisto Gordon having an altercation with a local street vendor on South Broadway. Gordon is the executive Director of the South Broadway Business Improvement District. The BID operates as a non-profit organization tasked with support services to grow local businesses.

After the release of the video, backlash against Gordon grew online. Then, a protest against her actions was held in front of a political campaign rally in support of Mayor Mike Spano the following day. Also, a Change.org petition calling for the resignation of Gordon has reached over two thousand signatures.

The same location that hosted the “Hispanos para Spano” event last week was the site of the protest today. Dozens of supporters forming a grassroots group stood for hours in the rain to make a simple demand.

We are demanding the City of Yonkers and the South Broadway BID stand with us–the people of Yonkers–in demanding the resignation of Jessica.

Watch a short video of the rally

Rally attendee, Carlos Alonso, said that he participated in the event because Gordon’s actions were “unacceptable.” He noted that the problem wasn’t only with Gordon though. Alonso explained that, “… after talking with community members and businesses, we began to see a pattern in how difficult it is for businesses and vendors to operate in Yonkers.” In a group statement on the event, this pattern is defined as, “the politicization of our City departments, jobs, roles, businesses, and community in order to maintain the status quo.” The group points to the continued support of Gordon as an example of this status quo.

The group informs us that it has collected a petition with over a thousand signatures that it will deliver to the board of the South Broadway BID on Monday, May 1^st. This petition is consistent with the demand that has been made for the past week–terminate Jessica Guisto Gordon.

Our community members should not have to live in fear when all we want is a chance at a better life for all of us.